Folding fan



Dec. 2, 1941 A. 4 1mm 2,264,505

FOLDING FAN Filed Nov. 1, 1 939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1" INVENTORY A IB/Hsan.

Dec. 2, 1941. A. J. BITTSON 2,254,505

' FOLDING FAN I 7 Filed Nov. 1, 1939 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

" I z ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. J BI'TTSON 2,264,505

FOLDING FAN I Filed Nov. 1, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 2, 1 941 PAT E FOLDING FAN Application November 1, 1939, Serial No. 302,266

8 Claims.

ing fan which does not fold on its symmetrical center line, thereby providing an extension of the larger portion of the fan into which a slit may be placed for the reception of the edge of the smaller portion of the fan to lock it in its folded position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locking means for a folding fan which functions to retain the retractable handle positively Within the confines of the folded wings of the fan from which position it cannot be accidently displaced.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a single fold locking fan with a retractable handle in which the fold line is arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle thereby providing a larger area on the smaller wing upon which the handle acts to maintain the fan in a more fiat open position.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a view of the fan in open position;

Fig. 2 is a view of the fan shown in Figure 1 in the closed and locked position with the handle retracted within the confines of the folded fan;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Figure 1' of a modified fan structure;

Fig. 4 is a View of the fan shown'in Fig. 3 in the closed and locked position with the handle retracted within the confines of the foldedfan;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a modified construction thereof; and

Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, show examples of how the folding fan of this invention and of my copending application may be applied in actual use as novelties for advertising or other purposes.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, numeral indicates the fan generally which is elongated in shape to provide a relatively largearea and which comprises two wings 2| and 22. These wings are foldable upon each other on the fold spaced from the symmetrical center of the fan thereby making the wings of unequal area. Thus, when the wings are folded over each other for the closed position of the fan, as shown in Fig. 2, there is an extension of the edge of the larger area wing beyond that of the smaller area wing. A slit 24 is formed in the larger wing of any suitable shape at the line where the extension of the larger wing meets the edge of the smaller wing when folded. An impression line 25 is formed across the smaller wing near its outer extremity to provide for bending of the edge of the smaller wing without breaking. The impression line is such that it does not cause a permanent bend in the smaller wing.

A swingable handle 26 is pivotally connected to the larger wing at 21 in any suitable manner to allow swinging of the handle about the pivot from its operative position shown on Figure 1 to its inoperative position shown on Fig. 2. A slot 28 is provided in the smaller wing of any suitable size and shape which is adapted to receive a corner of the handle to hold it secure in its operative position. This slot 28 may be merely a slit of suitable size and shape similar to slit 24 from which no material is removed. Whether 28 is a slot or a slit depends on the design and the weight and thickness of the material used in the fan and handle. It is, of course, obvious that the handle may be arranged to pivot on the smaller wing with the slot or slit 28 then being placed in the larger wing, this not being shown. With such construction, the handle will have to be designed of proper width with reference to the location of the impression line 25 so that it will not interfere with the bending of the smaller wing when the fan is being locked.

Thus far the showing and description have been for a fan structure in which there is an impression line 25 on the smaller wing. It is, of course, obvious that no impression line is necessary on the smaller wing when the material used is of such a quality that it may be flexed sufiiciently without breaking to allow insertion of the edge of the smaller wing into the slit 24 for locking. This construction is not shown.

In the open position shown in Figure 1 the handle straddles the fold line and is locked in the slot or slit 28 to be maintained in operative position. This will hold the fan open. The handle is made of any suitable material of sufiicient strength to maintain the fan relatively fiat in the open position.

For closing and locking the fan so that it will line 23. This fold line is purposely placed slightly 56 be of a convenient size to fit into a pocket, the

handle is swung about its pivot 2'! to the position shown in Fig. 2 within the confines of the wings and the smaller wing is folded upon the larger wing and its edge is slipped into the slit 24 to the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the handle cannot fall out of its position within the confines of the folded fan because of the locking feature.

In the modification shown by Figs. 3 and 4, the fan is shaped circular and the folding line is arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle. As in Figure 1, the fold line in this modification is also spaced from the symmetrical center of the fan, making the wings of unequal areas thereby providing the means for the locking structure as in the first modification. The angular arrangement of the fold line provides a larger area on the smaller wing 22 to be covered by the handle when in the open position. This tends to maintain the fan in a more flat open position.

The right side of the handle is anchored down by its pivotal connection 21 and will therefore remain fiat on the larger wing. It is obvious that the more area on the smaller wing that is covered by the handle when open, the greater will be the force of the handle tending to maintain the smaller wing fiat.

In Fig. the impression line 25 is not parallel to the fold line as in the other modifications, but is arranged at an angle thereto as shown. The slit in the larger wing is arranged to cooperate with the tip of the smaller wing as defined by the angular impression line. That is, the slit is arranged generally parallel to the impression line of Fig. 5. The purpose of this construction is to provide sufficient room within the folded fan if the handle is designed considerably Wider at its top than that shown by Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 5, for

example, illustrates a much wider handle than i that shown by Figs. 1 to 4 and this handle can still fit within the folded fan without interfering with the locking feature since the locking structure is now placed high up on the fan out of the way of the wide portion of the handle.

In Figs. 6 to the structural parts that are similar to Figs. 1 to 5 are designated by the same numerals as in Figs. 1 to 5.

Fig. 6 shows a fan construction like that in my copending application in which the handle is shaped lil e the neck of a bottle.

Figs. 7 and 8 show fans of the construction illustrated by Figs. 1 and 3 in which the handle is shaped like the neck of a bottle.

Fig. 9 shows a fan constructed according to this invention shaped like a hand with the handle in the form of a bottle.

Fig. 10 shows a fan constructed according to this invention shaped like a sea shell.

It is obvious from the above examples that the folding fan construction of this invention may take any suitable shape or design and that the handle may also take any suitable form, the basic structural features of this invention not being altered by such varieties of design.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact structural features and designs as are herein disclosed, but all equivalents as may fall within the scope of the appended claims are meant to be included.

I claim:

1. A folding fan of the character described comprising a body having a single fold line forming two wings foldable upon each other, said fold line placed in such position'that the wings are of unequal areas, a handle for the fan retractable within the confines of the folded fan, a slit in the wing of the larger area, a portion of the edge of the wing of smaller area adapted to fit into the said slit of the wing of larger area to lock the fan in folded position.

2. A folding fan of the character described comprising a body having a single fold line forming two wings foldable upon each other, said fold line placed in such position that the wings are of unequal areas, a handle for the fan retractable within the confines of the folded fan, a slit in the wing of the larger area, an impression line on the wing of smaller area to provide for bending thereof without breaking, a portion of the edge of said smaller area wing adapted to fit into the said slit of the larger area wing to lock the fan in folded position.

3. A folding fan of the character described comprising a body having a single fold line forming two wings foldable upon each other, said fold line placed in such position that the wings are of unequal areas, a handle pivotally connected to the larger area wing adapted to straddle the fold line and act upon the smaller area wing to maintain the fan in open position when the handle is in its operative position, said handle adapted to be positioned within the confines of the folded wings when it is in its inoperative position, a slit in the wing of larger area, a portion of the edge of the wing of smaller area adapted to fit into the said slit of the wing of larger area to lock the fan in folded position and to maintain the handle within the confines of the folded wings.

4. A folding fan of the character described comprising a body having a single fold line forming two wings foldable upon each other, said fold line placed in such position that the wings are of unequal areas, a handle pivotally connected to one of the wings adapted to straddle the fold line and act upon the other wing to maintain the fan in open position when the handle is in its operative position, said handle adapted to be positioned within the confines of'the folded wings when it is in its inoperative position, a slit in the wing of larger area, an impression line on the wing of smaller area to provide for bending thereof without breaking, a portion of the edge of the smaller area wing adapted to fit into the slit of the larger area wing to lock the fan in folded position and to maintain the handle within the confines of the folded wings.

.5. A folding fan of the character described comprising a body having asingle fold line forming two wings foldable upon each other, said fold line placed in such position that the wings are of unequal areas, a handle pivotally connected to the larger area wing adapted to straddle the fold line and act upon the smaller area wing to maintain the fan in open position when the handle is in its operative position, said handle adapted to be positioned within the confines of the folded wings when it is in its inoperative position, a slit in the wing of larger area, an impression line on the wing of smaller area to provide for bending thereof without breaking, a portion of the edge of the smaller area wing adapted to fit into the slit of the larger area wing to lock the fan in folded position and to maintain the handle Within the confines of the folded wings.

6. A folding fan of the character described comprisinga body having a single fold line forming two wings foldable upon each other, said fold line placed in suchposition that the wings are of unequal areas, a handle pivotally connected to one of the wings, a slot in the other wing for receiving a portion of the handle to lock it in its operative position, said handle fitting within the confines of the folded wings in its inoperative position, a slit in the wing of the larger area, the edge of the wing of smaller area adapted to fit into the slit to lock the fan in folded position and retain the handle within the confines of the wings.

7. A folding fan of the character described comprising a body having a single fold line forming two wings foldable upon each other, said fold line placed in such position that the wings are of unequal areas, a handle for the fan retractable within the confines of the folded fan, said handle adapted to straddle the fold line when the fan is in open position to hold the wings fiat, a slit in the wing of the larger area, the edge of the wing of smaller area adapted to fit into the slit of the larger area wing to lock the fan in folded position.

8. A folding fan of the character described comprising a body having a single fold line forming two wings foldable upon each other, said fold line arranged on the fan to divide it into wings which are unequal in area and unsimilar in contour, a handle for the fan retractable within the confines of the folded fan, a slit in the larger wing, the edge of the smaller wing adapted to fit into the slit in the larger wing to lock the fan in folded position, the contour of said fan body being symmetrical withrespect to said handle when the fan is in open position.

ANTHONY J. BITTSON. 

